Willmott Dixon is scheduled to start this month a project to turn a former five-storey shopping building in Sheffield into a music venue.
Sheffield City Council announced in February 2024 that it had appointed Willmott Dixon for the Event Central job. Works were expected to start in January this year for an early 2026 completion.
Willmott Dixon revealed this week that the £14.4m project will start by the end of August.
The project involves substantial structural alterations to create a new atrium from the ground to the first floor, strengthening works to accommodate revised loadings, a new facade and complete fit-out of the music venue and additional workspace areas.
CM approached Willmott Dixon and Sheffield City Council to enquire about the reasons for the delay.
Event Central is partly funded by the government’s Future High Streets Fund, of which the council had initially secured £15.8m.
Chris Yates, Yorkshire director at Willmott Dixon, said: “Our local team of regeneration experts bring a wealth of experience to Event Central and we’re delighted to play our part in the regeneration of Fargate, creating a space designed to empower this city’s boundless creativity.
“We will ensure creating opportunities for the local community is at the heart of this project.”
